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The individual responsible for one of the most significant leaks in US political history is Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old former technical assistant for the CIA and current employee of the defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. Snowden has been working at the National Security Agency for the last four years as an employee of various outside contractors, including Booz Allen and Dell.The Guardian, after several days of interviews, is revealing his identity at his request. From the moment he decided to disclose numerous top-secret documents to the public, he was determined not to opt for the protection of anonymity. "I have no intention of hiding who I am because I know I have done nothing wrong," he said.Snowden will go down in history as one of America's most consequential whistleblowers, alongside Daniel Ellsberg and Bradley Manning. He is responsible for handing over material from one of the world's most secretive organisations – the NSA.In a note accompanying the first set of documents he provided, he wrote: "I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions," but "I will be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and irresistible executive powers that rule the world that I love are revealed even for an instant."

And he is out. The man who revealed this **** storm. A hero and a great man that was not afraid to tell the truth and reveal something he thought was wrong. Whistle blowing is not a crime! [/FONT][/COLOR]

From my understanding whistleblowing is revealing information about a gov or company in which that gov or company is partaking in illegal, dishonesty, or activivites that are simply wrong. One could also argue that what the gov is illegal because its unconsitutional which seems to be this is..

From my understanding whistleblowing is revealing information about a gov or company in which that gov or company is partaking in illegal, dishonesty, or activivites that are simply wrong. One could also argue that what the gov is illegal because its unconsitutional which seems to be this is..

Illegal is the key word. We can't let people hide behind the term whistle-blower when they are revealing top secret information. So who decides if it's illegal? Some grunt sitting at a keyboard who's been sworn to secrecy? He'd better damned well be right or he goes to jail.

Illegal is the key word. We can't let people hide behind the term whistle-blower when they are revealing top secret information. So who decides if it's illegal? Some grunt sitting at a keyboard who's been sworn to secrecy? He'd better damned well be right or he goes to jail.

How is the US gov collecting cell phone information and tapping phones and spying on internet usage without a warrant not unconstitutional? I would always think that if the government was spying on its own citizens i wouldnt imagine a day when the information was finally revealed to the open and finally the media would pay attention to it that some citizens would be sitting back and saying "oh who decides what the gov is doing is illegal"? Whatever happened to transparency?

How is the US gov collecting cell phone information and tapping phones and spying on internet usage without a warrant not unconstitutional? I would always think that if the government was spying on its own citizens i wouldnt imagine a day when the information was finally revealed to the open and finally the media would pay attention to it that some citizens would be sitting back and saying "oh who decides what the gov is doing is illegal"? Whatever happened to transparency?

They are acting under warrants issued by the FISA court in compliance with Congressional approval. I do not agree with current activities, but one is not enough to stop the activity...

I don't often change my signature, but this was just too over the top to let anyone forget with what this country is up against...

Originally Posted by James D Hill

I am for gay marriage because it ticks off Jesus freaks and social conservatives. Gays are also good voters because the vote for my side so I fight next to them.

And he is out. The man who revealed this **** storm. A hero and a great man that was not afraid to tell the truth and reveal something he thought was wrong. Whistle blowing is not a crime! [/FONT][/COLOR]

The fellow probably violated dozens of security laws and oaths, so he's in a heap of trouble. Why did he out himself? Possibly because he worried about being rubbed out, and the publicity would provide him some protection. Possibly he was also concerned about his colleges in the NSA, who were in for a rough time of it in the coming investigation.

I can't believe he would become this upset and blow the program and himself if the NSA was sticking to the rules and monitoring foreign terrorist activity. There must be some illicit stuff going on.

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." --HL Mencken